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The Heat is On – Get Spay-Neuter Discount Coupons

To beat the heat, County Animal Services is offering discount spay-neuter coupons throughout the month of January. The coupons give a $100 discount for females and a $50 discount for males. The idea is to act now before hundreds of kittens take over the shelters.

“Fluffy baby animals are cute, there is no doubt about that, but there aren’t enough homes willing to take in a new kitten or two or three every year,” said County Animal Services Director Daniel DeSousa. “As a result, the shelters get inundated with unwanted pets.”

Cats can get pregnant at just four to five months old. While she is still nursing, she can get pregnant again.

The number of kittens under two months old dropped off at the County’s shelters peaked in May of last year at 571. That averages out to 18 kittens a day for every day of the month. The number is a lot higher than in 2016 when the highest number, again in May, was 415.

If pet owners use a veterinarian listed on County Animal Services website, the discount may be deeper or even free.

The coupons are available to residents in the unincorporated areas of the County and Animal Services’ six contract cities of San Diego, Santee, Carlsbad, Solana Beach, Encinitas and Del Mar. Residents can pick up the coupons from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday at any one of the three animal care facilities or by calling (619) 767-2675. The coupons must be used within 60 days and returned to Animal Services within 30 days of being used so pet owners can be reimbursed.